REE Automotive, a provider of electric vehicle platforms and an automotive technology company, has announced its P7-C Class 4 chassis cab, the latest addition to the company's P7 electric truck line-up. The P7-C has a new chassis cab offers a maximum range of 150 miles, a payload of up to 3,200 Kg, a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of up to 7,250Kg and a class-leading 60cm platform height with a turning circle just under 12 metres.
REE builds all of the important parts of an EV into the ‘corner'. In other words, the wheel and its arch. The motor, braking and regenerative systems are all located in the corners of its platform. That gives complete flexibility when it comes to designing solutions for specific clients/applications.
As we reported three years ago, REE has partnered with Mahindra as its global production OEM. That means that REE can focus on designing new products, while Mahindra will take care of building and delivering to customers. This model has long been popular in the tech sector, where companies like AMD, nVidia and Intel all get their graphics chips made by specialist companies like TSMC. We refer to this as a ‘FAB-less model' when it comes to technology products (no fabrication plant needed). This ‘Factory-less' model is now available for EV innovators – and it's one of the reasons why traditional auto makers are worried about the market move away from complicated petrol/diesel engines. The partnership with Mahindra, means that REE could deliver up to 250,000 vehicles, without ever needing to set up a traditional production line.
The versatility that this platform offers is one of the core strengths of the product according to Daniel Barel, REE Co-Founder and CEO. He previously told media, “Our platform provides the perfect blank canvas for our customers on which to build EVs tailored to their needs, whether it’s a fully autonomous last-mile delivery vehicle, a spacious yet compact urban shuttle or a flexible delivery truck with higher load capability on a smaller footprint.”
So where is REE with its various offers? Right now, commercial customers can order the entire P7 electric truck line-up, which including P7-C, P7-B and P7-S. The P7-S allows customers to enjoy total modularity, while the P7-B box truck targets the large and highly popular Class 3 last-mile segment.
The P7-C's new cab design was developed based on direct feedback from ongoing customer evaluations of proof-of-concept vehicles and is designed to meet fleet owners' specific needs. The interior of the advanced cab features a 13-inch centre screen, ample window space for excellent visibility, and improved safety in tight urban environments and pedestrian-heavy areas, and hard-wearing durable materials. The high cab roof and low floor platform allow for walk-through applications – as the driver can stand and move about the cab with ease.
All vehicles in the P7 program are built for urban environments with market-leading product attributes, including optimal manoeuvrability, increased cargo volume, low step-in height, aerodynamic design, low noise, greater visibility, and increased safety. The entire P7 electric truck line-up is powered by the REEcorners, x-by-wire technology, and is purpose-built to drive down the total cost of ownership (TCO). All P7 configurations are currently available to order, with initial deliveries slated to begin in Q4 2023.
Certification for the P7 electric line-up is well underway, with the most recent milestone being the completion of winter testing in Sweden. With first production-intent vehicles produced and being tested, certification is expected to be complete in H2 2023. Monarch Truck Centre, The Truck Shop, and RY-DEN Truck Centre have joined REE's US authorised dealer network.
Tali Miller, Chief Business Officer of REE, said, “Part of what our customers love about our highly modular P7 platform line-up is the fact that they can make the most out of it. Be it P7-B, the ultra-low floor electric box truck designed for the highly popular last-mile Class 3 segment, or P7-S that powers the Class 5 Proxima with EAVX and Morgan Olson for the walk-in-van market, and now the new cab design of the P7-C Class 4 chassis cab that we developed in response to market feedback to best meet customer needs, including capitalising on government incentive programs.”